Ron DeSantis officially declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President in May. But Donald Trump Snr is the favorite with the top-rated sportsbooks. Despite all this, DeSantis doesn’t seem to be going away. As you will see in our political futures betting, it looks like a two-horse race. But Trump is pulling further clear every week in the betting. So can Ron DeSantis turn things around and win the nomination?
Ron DeSantis officially declared his candidacy, filing his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, May 24th
He later announced his intention to run in an error-prone event on Twitter with Elon Musk
Despite his announcement, the odds with the best political betting sites have continued to favor Donald Trump Snr
Betting to win the Republican nomination for President
Yes, it appears that no matter what flak gets thrown in the direction of the 45th President of the United States, it doesn’t appear to be affecting his betting odds.
When Trump was indicted in April this year, his odds to be the nominee were -165. Since then, DeSantis has announced his nomination, and Trump has been indicted for a second time. But still, Trump’s odds continue to shorten.
Trump is now into -300. Ron DeSantis continues to drift, with the Florida Governor out to +300. After those two, the remaining runners in the market are all +2200 (Tim Scott) or greater.
The latest betting to win the Republican nomination for President can be found below. These odds are taken from the best online Las Vegas sportsbooks for political betting.
A few weeks back, Biden was at +200, DeSantis was at +275, and Trump was at +325. Could this shift back towards Biden offer DeSantis a lifeline with the GOP?
Make no mistake, Ron DeSantis has his work cut out to overcome Donald Trump and become the Republican nominee for President. There is still a long way to go in this race. And although Trump seems to be pulling further away, DeSantis hasn’t gone yet.
Trump looks and sounds the part when speaking to his audience. And while it can’t be disputed that his fan base will back him no matter what, it is also true that Trump needs far more than just his adoring supporters on his side to win an American Presidential Election.
Yes, this article is about betting to win the Republican nomination, not the Presidential Election. But one influences the other. Because if Trump can’t convince the GOP he can win a Presidential Election, they may look elsewhere for a candidate who can. And this is where Ron DeSantis can capitalize.
Reasons for DeSantis backers to stay positive
When it comes to a battle of personalities, DeSantis has little to no chance of defeating Trump. There is simply no competition. Trump can hold an audience, and he has the charisma and personality to argue any point forcefully and convincingly.
But what Trump also has is plenty of baggage. His larger-than-life personality can be his greatest strength, but it could also be his biggest downfall.
Everything the man does makes a headline. No matter how benign.
Some may say it’s like a sideshow. And that can be where DeSantis can cash in if he can move the narrative.
Some voters may not admit it publicly, but they may be sick of the sideshow surrounding Trump. When it comes to the crunch, they may decide they like the thought of having a serious person running the country.
So, if DeSantis can shift the narrative away from personalities and onto policies, he may be able to regain ground.
He may also benefit from promoting himself as the adult in the debate. And when tensions are high with powers like Russia and China, DeSantis may decide to attack the flaws in Trump’s personality, saying he is too risky to be put back in charge at such a crucial point in history.
Attacking Trump too strongly is dangerous
When DeSantis goes on the front foot and attacks Trump, just how far does he go? This is fraught with danger. We have all seen how reluctant Republicans have been to come out against Trump too strongly.
Getting that balance right will be key for DeSantis. If he is to try and paint Trump as not up to the task of dealing with the threat of Russia, he has to tread carefully. It’s also a fine line when it comes to attacking Trump’s toxicity amongst Americans, some of whose votes may be needed to win a Presidential Election.
What’s Next?
The first candidates debate is in August, although there is plenty of talk about who will or won’t be attending. After that, the primaries look set to start in January, in New Hampshire.
The chances are DeSantis won’t be catching Trump now. Okay, so we’ll know more in August. But if nothing much changes by then, we only expect to see the odds on Donald Trump Snr continue to shorten.
Donald Trump SnrTo win Republican Presidential Nomination
Dean has been writing betting tips for websites now for over 15 years.
He started out writing and editing his own publications, but has now expanded to publishing articles on various well known websites where he covers everything from hot dog eating competitions to casino reviews.
Over the years Dean has learnt to adapt his skills. Using his extensive sports knowledge and his British sense of humor, Dean has developed into a trusted voice in the betting industry.